Horrid Day 101:

Start with an almost 4 year old who doesn't go to sleep till 10:30pm. Add an almost one year old who is too congested and wired from guests to go to sleep when she needs too. Let that mix simmer until someone pees in the bed. After that you can add the spices, said 1 yr old wakes up at least an hour before she needs to and 4 yr old isn't far behind. So now, with two under rested, congested children and one under rested, congested dad you start the day.

First thing is to feed the children, after an adequate breakfast 1 yr old starts to cry. Why? Who the hell knows, probably related to teething. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that. Does her crying stop for the next 2 hours? Only when food is in her mouth or she's being carried.

To finish the recipe you have the 4 yr old punch the dog and the refuse punishment.

Optional, correct 4 yr old with severity enough to bring tears and screams which, in turn, scare 1 yr old so much as to have simultaneous scream fest.

And that was all before 10am.

Mini-van Driving

Once again this is an old post ... when will it stop? : )

We bought a Toyota Sienna mini-van 3 months ago (so it really is February 2013, not October)! We LOVE it! Maybe that's why we haven't posted about it yet, been too busy enjoying life with a mini-van.

It was quite a process, especially convincing Jai to agree to get it. I guess I finally wore him down! : ) We researched a few different options, trying to consider the most economical choices with consumer reports. Our top choices were the well loved & more expensive Honda Odyssey & Toyota Sienna.  However, they seemed out of our price range even though we both have driven Hondas & Toyotas for most of our adult driving lives.

We looked primarily at Grand Caravans, but weren't finding the right one (year, mileage, details). We searched different used car sites, mainly on-line, including Car Max (actually looked last summer, but we weren't ready) & got Jai's car (green Corolla) evaluated there for trade-in value. Then 1 day we looked on Car Max's website & saw a Toyota Sienna for a decent price, more than we wanted to pay, but good considering the value for a Toyota or Honda.

So we arranged for Uncles Mike & Chad to watch the girls & headed there to check out the van. When we arrived, it was crowded & there was no one available to assist us. Annoying as Jacqueline had been asleep so I hadn't been able to feed her before we left M&C's house (1:00pm) ... I really was in quite a time predicament. We walked outside & checked out the vans on the lot, seeing a few we liked. We walked back & finally someone was available (2:00pm). We explained we wanted to test drive 2 vans & started the process with Jai giving his license to be verified ... discovered that it had expired 6 weeks ago on his birthday! Therefore I had to drive the vans which was fine, I enjoyed that, but really wanted Jai to drive it since he would be the primary driver.  We drove both, not liking the Kia, but thoroughly liked the Sienna, so spacious, great pick up with the V6 engine, in great condition (interior & exterior), only 82K miles, 8 passengers!

We returned to office cubicle to start purchase part of process (2:30p) & we discovered 2 issues as they checked credit.
1. Jai forgot to bring title to his car - 95% sure he knew where it was in house
2. There were 2 liens on his car ... odd since Jai said he had the title in his possession, but long story about why it didn't get transferred from bank name to his
He said "how did you know to do that?" I don't know, I just did. I'm sure someone told me.
After way too long talking about options, initially the manager saying we could have the van & bring back the title and I'm about to burst with engorgement & we should have just left with the plan to return with required documents, we finally leave, having to put car seats BACK in Jai's car (3:00pm)!

We drive back to M&C's place, hoping everyone is OK because they're not answering their phones, I'm driving of course, and discover that the E light turns on for the gas gauge. Are you kidding me?

First the license, then the title, now almost out of gas! Someone does not want us to get this van. Unbelievable!

We arrive safely at friends' house, Jacqueline only awaken recently, Julia happily watching a movie. I gratefully feed baby while Jai goes to get gas. After thanking M&C for everything, we load everyone into the car & head home to find the title (4:00pm). Jai goes inside & fairly quickly returns with the located document! Eureka! Then I need to go to the bathroom & so does Julia so inside we go while Jai watches Jacqueline. Thankfully she stayed in the car, the only 1! : ) We all get buckled back in the car & head back to Car Max (4:45pm).

This isn't how we wanted to complete the transaction with 2 young children in tow, but you do what you have to do. It really didn't take too long, but there was a TON of paperwork to complete & sign our names a zillion times. It reminded us of buying a house.

In the dark, we finally left Car Max (6:30pm) in our glorious van, all the i's dotted & t's crossed, extremely comfortable, happy & excited. It's nice! : )

10-11-12 = 9 months of Jacqueline

HAPPY MONTHIVERSARY!
Another 3 months have gone by & now you are 9 months old!
You are a character, constantly clapping & smiling!
You're not really crawling yet, but you're busy in your own way! : )
Today you weighed 16.11 pounds, 27 inches long & 42.5 cm head circumference.
Lots of growth since 6 month clinic visit, most definitely since you arrived!
Another pound & you'll have tripled your weight! That's truly amazing - you started so small! 

Side note:
Big sister almost weighs 38 pounds ... yeah!!! You only need a couple more to get to 40 pounds by 4th birthday in December. That way Jacqueline can move into a big kid car seat by 1st birthday in January & Julia can move into a booster seat.  Come on, girls, save your parents some money!!!! : )

Julia also is growing up & out as her pants & tops are getting shorter & her shoes are getting smaller. We don't have any tennis shoes in size 11 or 12 so we're headed to thrift store tomorrow. 

Chicago for Fall Break 2012

Another successful plane ride with 2 small children ... this trip was slightly different from the one to MA in June. Unusually Julia was quieter thanks to Jai's Ipod which she LOVES. Jacqueline did not sleep on this trip, coming or going; 1 example of the difference of being 4.5 versus 9 months old! So much to see & "talk" about this time. Once again we got compliments on how well behaved our children are, surprised as people anticipated how bad it would be sitting next to family with kids.

It was nice to see family. They fed us, cleaned dishes, washed our laundry, watched girls for a Date Night, played with the girls, held the baby often, welcomed & included my sister in their home. It was a great vacation, change of scenery, break from the routine of constant work of parenting, house maintenance & working outside the home. Lovely, so lovely! Thank you!

Side Note:
So awesome to take a break from the pump! Only 9 more weeks to go until Winter Break. FANTASTIC!!!!! : )

Complimentary Food

Jacqueline started eating some foods at 7 months old.
Banana - first one like Julia - loves it!
Sweet potato - yum!
Pumpkin - another loved orange food
Winter squash - delicious, favorite fall food
Tofu - Jacqueline likes it!
apples & blueberries - tart, some funny faces! : )
Oatmeal - OMG! The girl loves her oats! She really has bulked up eating it.

A girl who likes food almost as much as she likes the breast!

Tomato Watermelon Basil Salad

Delicious! Who knew!
Thanks Jai for making this wonderful combination of foods.
All locally sourced too!
YUMMY!!!!

Dear SAHD

Dear SAHD,

I have am 8 month old who seems to only take naps while I am carrying her. My wife has the advantage of nursing but if I even think about putting her in a horizontal position when she is tired she howls like a child who is being beaten within an inch of her life. What do I do? Is there anyway to get her to lay down for a nap?

Exacerbated,
Deaf Dad

---

Dear Deaf Dad,

I have a recently discovered solution that might work for you.

Love her and play with her so she will let her guard down. Feed her as much as possible even if you are squeezing two of her feedings closer together than you should or would like. Take her to the crib and lay her down. Walk away long enough to get another cup of coffee and take a few bites of your lunch. At this point she should be screaming bloody murder - no need for a baby monitor it will be loud enough.

Get a swaddle or blanket large enough to swaddle. Firmly break her concentration by firmly saying the child's name, pick her up and sooth her. Next you want to swaddle her. If she's anything like my child you have to do this straight-jacket tight. Sooth her more and lay her in the crib. Lightly pat her chest while slowly decreasing pressure. If you get no change in facial expression when you stop it is time to walk away and enjoy the solitude.

Hope this works for you.

Signed, SAHD

A Dad dreams

P090412PS-0695, a photo by The White House on Flickr.

Not that I want to be POTUS but one day I hope my girls and I can cut an image somewhere close to as fabulous as this

Via Flickr:
President Barack Obama and his daughters, Malia, left, and Sasha, watch on television as First Lady Michelle Obama begins her speech at the Democratic National Convention, in the Treaty Room of the White House, Tuesday night, Sept. 4, 2012.
(Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

This official White House photograph is being made available only for publication by news organizations and/or for personal use printing by the subject(s) of the photograph. The photograph may not be manipulated in any way and may not be used in commercial or political materials, advertisements, emails, products, promotions that in any way suggests approval or endorsement of the President, the First Family, or the White House.

Fun things Julia says

Dad, you realize that you have your shoes on inside of the house.

Yesterday Julia said some funny comments to Tara.
1. After checking her backpack for clothes, she was responsible for replacing what was missing.
As we got ready to go to Y, I asked her about the backpack's status.
Julia: "Yes, Mom. I'm on it."

2. We had plans with some friends who we haven't seen in a long time. Probably since Julia was about a year old & they live 2-3 miles from us! However, our plans changed because she was sick, then Jai got sick so we re-scheduled.
Julia: "Are we going? I really want to see them ... though I don't really know who they are."

Wise words from an almost 4 year old. : )

Not a vegetarian!

I don't know how Susie does it. Meat grosses her out.
That is not the case for me or Jai or Julia. We love meat!
Recently Jai cooked this beef roast in the most incredible way.
It was rich, flavorful, so delicious. He said he used black cherry juice to create a glaze.
OMG! So yummy!

Yesterday we cooked some beef bacon we got from Porter Road Butcher which is located on Gallatin Road (long story). I ate like 5 pieces! This is why I shouldn't eat bacon, regardless of it being beef, not pork. Pork is a meat I do not eat, sadly Jai laments constantly.
Luckily there still is some left as well as another 1/2 pound of the beef bacon we didn't cook yet. Tomorrow! : )

Most, if not all, of our meat is locally sourced either from our Avalon Acres Farm CSA or one of the farms at the Farmers' Market or PRB. Helps me eat meat with less guilt! : )

Back to Work Part 2

I'm tired. I'm not getting enough sleep.
I'm tired also of pumping 3x a day, wondering if I'm going to have enough EBM.
Jacqueline is 7 months, healthy, doing fine, still gaining weight, has a great personality.
I also have a freezer full of breast milk, but I have to be careful how/when I use it.

So I had a knot on Sunday in my right breast. Really strange!
Maybe it's pumping related as I haven't had a knot in months.
I barely had engorgement issues even in beginning days, not like with Julia.
It took 2 days of serious efforts, including Tiger Balm & even more diligent feedings.
Finally it is gone, but my supply, at least from what I pump at work, took a hit.
I'm taking extra Fenugreek pills to see if that will help.
I'm also working with Jacqueline to make sure her latch is good.
I noticed she was slipping a bit, tugging more so I'm slighly raw & irritated.

Then there's the sleep deprivation.
She's reverse cycling & feeding more at night.
Come on! A woman needs her sleep!

Driving to work this morning, I thought 5 more months ... I can do it.
Of course that's no question! I'll get more sleep one of these days.
This has been a cake walk compared to the hard work I put in to feed Julia.
She got breast milk for 14 months; one year is my minimum.
That is my goal for Jacqueline, too.

Many debate whether breast is best & is formula really poison.
Also people discuss whether breast milk makes your child smarter, for example.
There are other reasons why a formula fed child could be smart ... like genetics.
We know that Julia is brillant for that reason. : )
However, formula is made by people, in a factory, filled with perservatives.
Breast milk is made by my body, filled with great food & nutrients I eat.

Alright, somehow I got on my BF soapbox AGAIN.
I'm really tired & ready for a vacation already.
As a parent I feel like there never is a break.
They are small like when I take a shower or walk the dog.
I guess I have to take it when I get it. : )

No sleeping allowed

I have two daughters who seem to believe that no sleeping is allowed.

Julia, 3 1/2 yrs old, refuses to go to sleep before she yells and screams and cries and thrashes for an hour or so. Almost every night over the past 2 or 3 weeks we have seen some version of this ritual. She will go through various parts of her bedtime routine with no problem but at some point she decides it is necessary to through a tantrum. She's doesn't want to be isolated from the family, we get that but almost EVERY night she seems to forget the end result is the same...she goes to sleep. It might be 2 hours after her bedtime but she ends up asleep. So, no amount of tantruming will change the fact that she will end up asleep.

Jacqueline, 7 mths, refuses to take a nap while laying down. She doesn't sleep though the night yet and she still naps a lot but only when she is being held on her mother's lap or when I have her strapped in the Ergo.

Why won't everybody sleep like normal people?

Happy Birthday Mommy

It was one of my best birthdays with few presents or a big party.
The recognition & excitement of a 3 year old made this day extra special!
Julia was so cute - constantly saying "Happy Birthday" for days before as she couldn't quite remember the exact date so she was covering all her bases. : )

I had to work which is typical, especially working in middle & high schools, I was used to going back to work 1-2 weeks before Aug. 1. Last year I transferred to an elementary school & it was the first year I started AFTER my birthday. However, this year MNPS switched to a "balanced" calendar so school started earlier & actually the first day is today. It's OK - I like the balanced idea so working on my birthday is fine.

When I arrived home, there was a Happy Birthday banner with "words" written all over it. Jai wrote the HB message & transcribed Julia's other words as well as Julia's art decorated this HB card. It was awesome! It made my day! Later we went to the Farmer's Market & Turnip Truck for weekly groceries & met my mom who had brought dinner too. At home we ate yummy food from Istanbul Restaurant (love that place!) & also ice cream for dessert. I also opened a few cards & present from Bonnie (gift card to TT!!!); Jai's present is in the mail ... : )

It was a perfect birthday celebration - simple, with family, good food, at least 1 present. Nothing else required. : )

Back to "Normal" Sleep

Nope it was a oddity. Hoping to get that elusive 5 hours together sleep again, but it was back to "normal" routine the last few nights. Bummer! I love sleep.

Why?

Today has been a day of a pooping, crying, awake infant combined with a motormouth, awake preschooler.

Why didn't I become that professional anthropologist?

Does it smell like Grandma Bonnie?

What does that mean? Just something else Miss Julia said to us yesterday.
They picked up some food from my mom's house & she'd put it in her cooler.
The cooler is sitting on the bench by back door now & I guess Julia smelled it.
When Jai asked her what it smelled like, was it a bad smell, she said no.
So funny!

Glorious Sleep

Jacqueline slept from 9:15p-4a.
That means I slept from 10:30p-3:45a.
OMG! That is 5.5 hours ... TOGETHER!
I cannot remember the last time I slept that many hours in 1 stretch.
That many hours is my usual amount of sleep each night.
However, not consecutive sleep with no interruptions, usually for a feeding.

I fed Jacqueline at 8:30p, only on left side too.
I should have been in bed myself at 9:30p, but I had stuff to do - of course (clean pump stuff!).
Then I decided to pump, felt slightly full, definitely on right side;.
I got about 1.5 ounces which is nice to store.
Good thing I did too as that would have been a long stretch, really uncomfortable.

Julia of course was not asleep when I went upstairs. UGH!
She has so many books she wants to "read."
I was so tired & told her I was going to bed. I didn't even look at my book.
Then Julia comes into my room & says "I cannot see my book, Mommy."
I said "No, you cannot. My light is off. I'm going to sleep."
I don't know what happened after that.

Now as I pump & write this blog post, I hear her moving around upstairs.
WTF! It's 5am! Girl, go to sleep & stay asleep! DANG IT!
I'm going to Y when I finish, hope she's back in bed. I want Jai & Jacqueline to keep sleeping.
Too much going on in her brain! Amazing!

Rushing Part 3

Really! Seriously! My last statement in previous post is so not realistic. Anyone who has seen my house or calendar & the many lists I have, constantly making, editing, crossing off stuff, knows that I am Queen of Multi-Tasking. As much as it seems like a good idea it's not the best plan to do multiple tasks at the same time. Folding laundry while watching TV maybe, writing blog post while pumping, yes possibly, but most tasks need a certain amount of majority attention.

So I forgot to mention about getting home to eat lunch quickly before heading to 1p clinic appt. 
Yep, after the 10am movie, I have my annual well woman exam. It actually worked out in my favor as I went alone & it was quite lovely. I listened to my audio book (Man Made) during drive over & back. Also while waiting in exam room I read book #4 of 5 (Mindy Kaling's satirical memoir) in NPL's Summer Reading Program. Really funny book, I love "The Office" too!

Then after Julia's nap, I decide to go to Y to read book. I dropped girls at Y Play for 45 minutes of quiet time to read book as it was due yesterday. I'm almost finished! I get home at 5pm to feed Jacqueline. However, she fell asleep so had to pump as I'm rushing to leave to pick up Anne Marie (we're carpooling to save the earth & also difficult parking situation). We're going to see "My Sister's Sister" at the Belcourt Theater. Yep I'm seeing another movie, this time without my children. 

We're late of course so running to get ticket so can get code for parking pass. Whew! We're inside finally & we get into DARKEST theater ever, searching for seats & sit down. We're briefly talking, whispering I believe, about what happened, what we missed & we got shushed! We are at the Belcourt so I'm sure that's part of it. So fancy! Really though! The woman stands up with this man, whom we did NOT see sitting there,  & says "of all the seats in this theater you choose this row & then you have to talk" & walks off to some other dark row of seats. Seriously! We just sat down, hardly said anything & not that loud. I doubt you missed anything! I barely thought about it until after the movie, half expecting her to find us & chew us out again. However, when the lights appeared (barely!) it was like the few people in the theater had disappeared into thin air. Strange! Good movie though.

OK so here's another funny tidbit going back to NPL Summer Reading Program. I try to participate every year & this year we registered Julia too. She completed hers, but I forgot to log her 5th star before the deadline. I was doing that last night & also going to log in my 4th star & I cannot find the icon on NPL website. Odd! Then I realize the date & the deadline was LAST Saturday, not this Saturday as I think it is. Trying to reach my goal, cross another item off my list. DANG IT! I was so close too. Jai completed his 5th star on-line so he gets a prize. Oh, well, next year. However, I decided to continue to think this Saturday is my deadline. My 5th star is this YA book "Planet Tad" written by a writer for Daily Show so you know it's funny. It's hilarious! It's written from the perspective of a 7th grade boy & every day is a blog post so wicked easy to read; I'll be done in no time. 3 months a day is my goal. Whatever your age, whether or not you've worked with or lived with a middle school boy, you will enjoy this book. So funny!

Rushing Part 2

OMG! First of all, Julia got it right. She's amazing! Yet I'm focusing on the wrong things. This is time with my family. The other stuff doesn't matter.

The activity is going to see a movie that costs $1 per person. It doesn't matter if we're on time. There probably aren't any previews either which I love. Plus I feel bad & angry trying to do so much that I'm not enjoying the current activity as I think of a zillion other tasks.

I say "come on, Tara - suck it up! Be late! Who cares! Go to the movie with your family." I finish with Jacqueline, put clothes in dryer, hang clothes on line outside (I have to, it's really hot so they'll be dry by the time we return) while Jai puts kids in car seats. I eat my cereal in the car & we arrive at theater in 10 minutes. We pay $3 for tickets & with Regal Crown Club card purchase of tickets on a Tuesday, we receive $2 small popcorn vouchers. Sweet! I buy 2 bags of popcorn = grand total of $7 for this movie experience. Jai & girls are already in theater which is semi-crowded. We climb over a family to seats in middle of row & settle in to watch movie "Rio" which came out last year.

Julia has her own bag of popcorn - so fun for her! : )
I hold baby while Jai eats popcorn from other bag.
Then we switch & he holds Jacqueline while I eat popcorn & watch movie.
I get Jacqueline back & nurse her to sleep for rest of movie.

This Summer Movie Express is a great program. $1 admission on Tuesdays & Wednesdays for 10am showing of "older" movies. You don't have to have children to attend, but most of the movies are aimed at kids plus much more affordable movie going experience for families.

"Rio" was great! Good music, fun story, set in Rio de Janiero, Brazil of course during Carnival. Julia was slightly loud at a few points, asking questions about the story.  It especially seemed like she talked loudly during a quiet moment, & we reminded her to whisper. No one shushed us though as the theater was filled with families with small children. As we left the theater we saw a friend Lisa with her children & she said this was their first time here all summer. Definitely need to do this next summer, especially on hot or rainy days!

Be late, do less tasks, be happy with the now! Rushing around is crazy!

Rushing ...

I feel like this is the title of my life. I'm always trying to get so much done in what feels like the smallest amount of time. Rushing here, rushing there, on a constant treadmill through my life. I also rush other people, especially Jai who seems super slow sometimes & Julia too despite other posts about her constant movement. Even drivers on the road sometimes are slow - well, some are!

It's not that they (Jai & Julia) are that slow, it's that I cannot realistically get everything I want done in the time allowed, especially not with a small baby, also a breastfed baby. Factoring in the time to feed her before, after or during an activity is really annoying sometimes and means things don't get done. Frustrating!

Example:
Yesterday I slept "late" meaning I didn't get up after Jacqueline's typical 5am feeding & do my alone time routine (pump/email or blog posts, laundry, exercise, shower) before everyone else wakes. We ALL slept in MY bed until 8am. OMG! Yes, that is late in our house. I really do not remember how many times Jacqueline ate; I was so tired! At some point Julia came into our room; not finding any room in the middle of bed or on the side by Jai she sleeps perpendicularly at the foot board.

Last night I told Jai I wanted to be ready to leave for that day's activity at 9am. Usually I set the time about an hour before we need to be at destination. No way it's going to happen now! Instead of jumping in shower & focusing on essential tasks, I put a load of laundry in washer. They're all still upstairs doing I don't know what. Now I realize I won't be able to shower with washer on (weirdness) so I start to vacuum as the dog hair is SO annoying right now, well really always! Family downstairs now, Jai starts breakfast. I get clothes from washer to hang outside & put ANOTHER load in washer.  I leave basket with wet clean clothes (to hang on clothes line outside) on bench by back door. I figure I'll get to them later.

Finally I decide to jump in shower - it's past 9am now. I hear Jacqueline crying as I'm dressing & I cannot remember how long it's been since I fed her. I hurry to get her & remind Jai that we need to leave in 30 minutes max & he still needs to shower. I'm also hungry so this is making me extra irritable of course. While feeding Jacqueline, I brush Julia's hair & help her put some lotion on her arms & legs. Jai brings me bacon & heads upstairs to shower. As 9:45am approaches I decide I'm not going - I say aloud "I need to feed myself, feed Jacqueline, hang laundry, put other laundry in dryer."  Jai has showered & dressed already & come downstairs really quickly - he's amazingly fast at this task. Julia walks to kitchen to tell him that "Mommy isn't going with us to the movie."  "What? Why?" I hear him ask. Her reply - "She has things she wants to get done."

Post is too long - to be continued.

6 months of Jacqueline

HAPPY MONTHIVERSARY!
I cannot believe it has already been 6 months!
You are a cutie pie, with your constant smiles, real laughter & that busy tongue!
What an easy temperament too & you let many people hold you. Thanks! : )
You weighed 14.4 pounds, 26 inches long & 41 cm head circumference.
Lots of growth since 4 month clinic visit, definitely since you arrived!
A couple more pounds & you'll have tripled your weight! That's amazing since you started so small!

Jai - insert photo here. please : )

Julia goes to the Dentist Part 2

I forgot to write about this event.

Julia went to dentist in early April for first cleaning.
Sometime soon after that & before I went to my June dentist appointment, Julia fell while at Grandma Bonnie's & 1 of her front "eye" teeth came out, "roots & all" Jai told me. The tooth next to it was loose, getting looser every day.

In mid-June when I go to dentist, Julia comes with me for more dentist exposure & we ask them to look at it. It's OK. As the days/weeks go by, the tooth getting looser, Julia is more irritable (in pain naturally). So we call our favorite pediatric dentist referral (he helped us during the tooth pushed up in gum incident 2 years ago) & he has an opening at 4pm TODAY! We go!

Very calmly after examining the tooth situation & consulting with us about taking it out to which we both immediately say YES, Dr. Adams with gauze in hand while talking with Julia, removes the tooth. Minimal blood & pain almost unmentionable, we now have a 3 year old with 2 missing front teeth.

When asked about the Tooth Fairy, we reply "uh, no, not at this time." We're not trying to encourage "accidents" to happen for monetary gain. In due time we realize, but most kids lose their teeth around 6-7 years old, maybe 5, but definitely not 3. Oh, Julia, always ahead of the curve, well some curves! : )

Serenus

What Julia calls Serena & Venus Williams! Hilarious!

June is tennis month in our house.
The French Open ends at the beginning of the month & Wimbledon starts at the end of the month so I watch a LOT of tennis; so do Julia & Jai by default. Jai loves soccer so he watched some of Euro 2012, but I cannot wait for Julia to take some tennis lessons. She'll also probably play on a soccer team first as that is conveniently located at our very close Y. Plus swimming lessons started yesterday. Julia is a very physical child with TONS of energy so we are trying to channel it appropriately.

Back to Serenus ...

Also I have a continuous slideshow of pictures on my computer, including Wimbledon 2008 that I attended with my Wellesley friend, Pauline, when I was pregnant with Julia. She LOVES looking at them, especially the many ones of S & V. We saw the Williams sisters play in 2 doubles matches, once on Centre Court (so lucky, so cool!). However, the photos (taken by P, they are so good) are from seeing them play on a side court, an unexpected court change, so we had front row seats! So awesome!

Anyway, what a clever way to combine their names. So adorable! : )

Summer Travel

I started to write about our 2012 trips in mid-August when I realized I hadn't.
Then I was looking through the draft file; I never finished writing the post!
Come on! Crazy ridiculous! Now I won't remember most of the fun crazy details.

Like Julia vomiting on the flight from Nashville to Baltimore as we descended.
Oh, yeah, that one is memorable, not likely to forget that one for a long time! : )
Especially as our destination was Boston & we had to make a connecting flight.
That was fun stripping down my 3 year old in the very narrow space, using the wipes & wet bag.
Thank goodness we always have extra clothes in their back packs!
Hoping passengers are not inhaling noxious smells of early morning ingestion of yogurt & OJ vomit!
I thought I was going to hurl as I begged Julia not to touch me - "Mother of Year" award for me! : )

Thankfully Jacqueline slept peacefully in Jai's arms.
Then we had to disembark with a nasty car seat & our carry-on bags & find a bathroom quickly.
We found an open family bathroom & washed Julia again & scrubbed the seat as best possible.
As we walked quickly to our next gate, we hear announcement to board OUR plane to Beantown.
Now we're running!

Actually everything went alright though Julia kept asking for food; Jai & I simultaneously said NO.
We arrived, got rental vehicle, drove to Wellesley, got checked into dorm, ready for reunion activities.
Luckily we had some time since we'd left Nashville so early & arrived in Boston in early afternoon.
We washed all of the vomit clothes & car seat cover & cleaned the seat again.
We had to drive that evening since we had dinner plans with my Wellesley pals.
We had some time to rest before the class mixer, luckily downstairs in the dorm.
20th class reunion at Wellesley was great, lots of fun catching up with my friends & their spouses.
Kids love playing with their "cousins" & of course showing Julia the campus was awesome!
Class of 2031, sadly not 2032 which would mean we'd have the same reunion year.
Jac is Class of 2034, not again not a 2 or 7 ending year so not same reunion year for either girls. : (

Monday through Friday we rented a beach house in east coast Newburyport community.
We picked up Susie at her friend's place outside Boston & Bonnie at the bus station in Arlington.
Then we drove the hour or so to Plum Island.
Not the best beach weather, bit of rain, chilly temps, but nice to be somewhere different, love MA.
It also was good family time too, lots of rest, walks on the beach, good eats, even found a local farm!
See photo of Julia in her eclectic layered look, smiling big near the llama Ferninand.

Friday we headed to western MA for weekend wedding of my younger cousin, Carrie & her fiance, Jay.
That was tons of fun too. We got to see lots of family, most of whom had not meet Jacqueline.

By the time we returned home, it had been almost 2 weeks & we were glad to be there.
I know we went somewhere in July, but I cannot remember.
Not as memorable as the vomit flight! : )

Disclaimer = this post was written in June 2013!

Swim Lessons

It's started! We have become the "soccer mom/dad" stereotype & we only have a 3 year old. Actually after listening to some other parents for the past few months, we're actually kind of late compared to activities other children are doing. Soccer, T-ball, ballet, gymnastics, there are so many choices & that's not even including the obvious choice of TENNIS. I've already checked on those classes & she needs to be 4 or 5. : )

Really it is the magic number 3 for most of these activities & she didn't turn 3 until December. Then we had the baby in January so we knew it would be slightly delayed, closer to her being 4. Kind of like when she started the Parent Day Out program as we wanted to wait. Also similar is that it has been motivated by seeing a great need for Julia. She has a lot of energy, maybe not more than a typical 3 year old, but whew, we're tired looking at her run around the house.

This summer we've gone to the pool a few mornings each week & realized that she needed some lessons. Even though I've been taking her to the pool since she was 6 months old, she hadn't had any formal or really informal lessons. Jai & I each earned a free swim lesson during this Y Rewards program in 2010-11 & it ended last October so we still had these 2 vouchers to use. Technically they told us they had expired when we went to use them, but I argued since there wasn't an expiration date printed on the voucher. I go to the Y almost every day & you know it helps to know people & talk with them, use their names, be friendly, plus it's good PR for them. After her 2 free private lessons, we signed her up for 2 series of Group Lessons.

Seriously we have to keep this girl busy!
Soccer registration is in mid-July at the Y.
We're going to Dance East's Open House in July.
There's also a free trial lesson at gymnastics class in Madison/Rivergate area.
Most of these would be once a week for semester at least.

None of this is cheap, but it is so worth it as Julia learns new physical skills as well as the social interactions & the skills that go with those experiences. She really has blossomed quickly in her swimming skills, helped by her adventurous/no fear attitude. Another reason to teach her to swim - she really wants to jump into the deep end of the pool just as in life. Whew! She's a live wire & I love her for her spunk. Reminds me of someone ... : )